Russian oil tanker ‘seized by US helicopter attack’ off UK coast as Trump risks WW3 | World | News
Russian media claimed that the Russian tanker Bella 1 was seized off the coast of England because photos of the helicopter attack were leaked to the internet. A US official confirmed that operators boarded the Venezuela-bound tanker after more than two weeks of pursuit across the Atlantic.
The official, who previously spoke on condition of anonymity, said the operation was carried out by the US Coast Guard in coordination with the US military. According to Russian media, the seizure is currently taking place near Ireland. Just a few hours ago, the US ship was seen following the ships. Amid rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed powers, the United States has sent submarine-hunting planes to track Russian warships in the North Atlantic.
Bella 1 ship tracker LIVE: Russian oil tanker ‘raided by US forces’
The seizure, a move guaranteed to further inflame already escalating tensions with Moscow, came after the tanker evaded a US naval “blockade” of sanctioned ships and refused to comply with Coast Guard attempts to board the ship.
The ship operated under the name Bella-1 before its name was suddenly changed to Marinera after the US Coast Guard attempted to board it in the Caribbean.
Although the ship was believed to be empty, the US had issued an arrest warrant due to alleged violations of US sanctions and allegations that the ship was carrying Iranian oil.
More than half a dozen US and UK military aircraft are flying between Iceland and the British Isles as American forces land at Marinera, formerly known as Bella 1.
Earlier today, Russia mobilized warships to protect the oil tanker. The intervention came just days after U.S. special forces staged a dramatic pre-dawn raid in Caracas, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flying him to the United States to face federal charges including drug trafficking, according to multiple officials.
The ship departed Keflavik, Iceland, aboard the KC-135 Stratotanker earlier today to support refueling.
Earlier today, Russia said it was “monitoring the situation with concern” and accused the US and NATO of subjecting the ship to “clearly disproportionate” scrutiny.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the ship was sailing in international waters under the Russian flag and operating “in full compliance with international maritime law.” Moscow added that it expects Western countries to uphold this principle in practice.
A Downing Street spokesman said it would not comment on speculation or the use of British military bases by third parties.
